Edward h



(No Model.)

B. H. WHITEXE W. D. PARKER.

AUTOMATIC COMBINATION PIANO.

N0. 579,623. Patented Mar. 30, 1897..

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EDWARD H. \VHITE AND WILLIAM D. PARKER, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT; SAIDPARKER ASSIGNOE TO SAID YVHITE.

AUTOWiATiG COMBiNATiGN-PEANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,623, dated March30, 1897. Application filed December 12, 1895. Sarial N- '71,94=O. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, EDWARD H. WHITE and WILLIAM D. PARKER, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Meriden, in the 5 county of New Haven andState of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful AutomaticCombination-Piano, of which the following, together with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification sufiiciently full, clear, andexact to enable persons skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains to make and use the same.

The object of the present invention is to provide an automaticcombination-piano of simple and improved construction, having combinedtherein in a practically efficient and desirable manner, with the commonupright piano-action and its manual-keys, a reed-organ attachmentapplicable to the space in front of the jack-lifter rods, an automaticop erating mechanism beneath the key -table having actuating connectionsthat upwardly engage the rear ends of the manualkeys and controlled by atraveling perforated music sheet, strip, or tablet, and wind-inducingdevices, said mechanisms being relatively arranged and organized in acomplete operative instrument, as more fully hereinafter explained;also, to provide a reed-organ attach- 0 ment of the character describedadapted for convenient placement upon and removal from the piano. Theseobjects we attain by the mechanism herein illustrated and described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sec- 5 tional view of such partsof the piano and combined mechanism as will illustrate our invention.Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through one end of thereedbo.\', look-- ing from the front; and Fig. 3 is a similar sec- 40tion at the other end of the reed-box.

The piano upon which our invention is employed is of the common uprighttype. The piano-action A, strings S, and manualkeys K being arranged inwell-known manner need not be herein more particularly described. Foroperating this instrument automatically we preferably employ mechanismof the nature of that described in Letters Patent No. 470,323, datedMarch 8, 1892, or in which the manual-keys K are each worked by a pitmanor lifter J, that acts for raising the rear end of the key by forceimparted thereto from a pneumatic or power'device disposed beneath thekey-table a and controlled from a traveling music sheet, strip, ortablet M, the propelling power for which is generated by a suitablemotor. (Not shown.) The wind-inducing apparatus D, the motor-engine, andconnections for operating the music-sheet rolls therefrom, and the meansfor controlling the impulses of the automatic operating mechanism can beof well-known suitable construction. For instance, in the mechananismshown, F indicates the upright operai'ingpneumatics within the chest C,that act to lift the puppets J by the leversI or cranked wires, G thevalves for the inlet-leader F, and 7L the controlling pneumatics thatact to move the valves G, as influenced by the inflow of air in theducts Zrof the tracker B, when the music-sheet perforations pass thesame. These parts and their operation will be understood, all beingsubstantially as set forth in the above-named prior patent.

R indicates the improved reed-box, which is arranged across the pianoadjacently in front of the jack-lifter rods in and above the rear partof the manual-keys K within the space between said jack-lifter rods andthe upright front of the case A. Said reed-box is provided withreed-cells 2 for one or more sets of organ-reeds 4, which are insertedin the respective cells for sounding in the usual order; also, with awindehest chamber 3'and a cut-off valve chamber 6, beneath thereedcells, and into which latter chamber the airduets from saidreed-cells lead. Valves 5 are arranged over the openings of thereedcells, said valves being hinged. to the reedbox and having suitablesprings for closing 0 them to their seats. The free end of the valves isarranged for engagement with a lifter or operator, which preferablyconsists of a vertical pitman-pin 7, disposed beneath the end of thevalve and supported for endwise vertical movement by suitable guides onthe reed-box. The lower end of said pitman 7 stands upon the manual-key(or upon the adjuster which is connected thereto) just forward of thejack-lifter m, that works the pi- 10o ano-action devices, so that thepiano-hammer and the reed-playing valve are together operated inconjunction with the upward movement of the key end for simultaneouslysounding the string and reed.

The reed-box is removably supported at its ends by suitable ledges orbrackets 9, in connection with the piano case or frame, and retained inplace by detachable fasteningsf, so that it can be readily taken out andreplaced. lVhen in position, the wind-chest 3 matches upon and makesconnection with a wind trunk or conductor 10, leading to theair-exhausting bellows D, which are located at the back of the frame.

A mute or cut-off valve 8 is provided within the chamber 6, by which theflow of air from the reed-cells and chamber 6 into the windehest 3 canbe stopped or controlled at will. Said valve 8 is operated byconnections 12 at the end of the reed-box, which connections may extendto a convenient position at the front of the instrument, where asuitable pull or actuating device is provided for moving the same, asdesired.

In some instances, if desired, the valve 5 or the pitman 7 can beengaged and lifted by a pin or lug carried upon the jack-lifter rod m.(See dotted lines at n.) lVe prefer, however, to step the pitman uponthe key.

By combining the reed-box and its mechanism with the piano and automaticoperating mechanism in the manner described a structure is produced thatcan be manufactured and assembled with economical facility and which isapplicable for attachment to upright pianos now in general use withoutexpensive alteration of the piano structure. The reed-box can be readilyfitted and arranged in position, is easily accessible, and the playingof the reed-valves is in positive unison with the piano-action, whileits operation can be performed either manually or antomatically, at thewill of the operator.

Our improvement, as herein shown, can be applied to automatic pianos inwhich the manual-keys receive impulse from electric actuators disposedbeneath the keys (see dotted lines 00) as well as for pneumaticmechanism, and we desire to include such use as within the scope of ourinvention.

It will be understood that we do not herein claim combining a reedorganand piano, broadly or irrespective of the described structuralarrangement and mode of operation of the appliances; but

hat we claim herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic combination piano and organ having the usualupright-piano action, the key-table and manual -keys; the automaticallycontrolled actuating mechanism arranged beneath the key-table and havingupright lifters that upwardly impinge against the rear ends of saidmanual-key, the reedbox It adapted to the space between the jackliftersand upright front of the case, its ends extended to and removablysupported in connection with the case or frame by ledges and detachablefastenings; said reed-box provided with reed-cells 2 containing reeds 4,and inclosing the longitudinal windchest chamber and intermediate cutol'f valve chamber 6 with the sliding cut-off valve therein, theexhaust-bellows having the forwardlyextending wind-trunk 10 onto theopen end which said wind-chest matches, the playingvalves 5 overlyingthe reed-cells, and the upright pitman-pins arranged for moving saidplaying-valves in unison with the j ack-lifters, said parts beingconstructed, combined and operating, all substantially as and for thepurposes described.

2. In combination, with the piano case and action having the manual-keysand upright jack-lifter rods, the removable reed-box, as shown, adaptedto stand above the manual between said jack-lifter rods and the uprightfront of the case, its ends retained by supports and detachablefasteners; said box provided with reed-cells, reeds and valves, andcarrying, confined in guides thereon, the series of upright valve-pinsstepped upon the keys adjacent to and workingin conjunction with therespective j ack-lifters, the automatic operating mechanism, asdescribed, disposed underneath the key-table, and the series oflift-rods actuated thereby, upwardly impinging against the rear ends ofthe manual-keys, all substantially as set forth.

\Vitness our hands this 5th day of December, A. D. 1895.

EDIVARD I'I. IVIIITE. \VILLIAH D. PARKER.

. lVitnesses:

O. L. PIERCE, E. M. BALDW'IN.

